DAVAO CITY – Itinuturing ‘gold mine’ ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez ang ang Davao Children’s Games for out-of-school youths (OSYs)na ilulunsad sa Abril bilang bahagi ng Mindanao Sports for Peace program ng pamahalaan.
Iginiit ni Ramirez sa pakikipagpulong sa Davao coordinators ng Philippine Sports Institute (PSI), na napapanahon para buhayin ang Mindanao Children Games na nasimulan noong 2008 upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga kabataan sa Mindanao na makatikim ng suporta para sa hinahangad na kaunlaran sa sports.
Kabilang sa mga lungsod na magiging host sa torneo ang Cotabato City, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City at Zamboanga Peninsula.
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“This is the real gold mine not the Olympics. The gold is clear by means of reforming the children and inspiring them to go to school and study. The Sports for Peace is part of our anti-drugs campaign in helping kids do away with vices like illegal drugs. Through this, we will accomplish what President Rodrigo R. Duterte wanted to remember the poor and bring sports development in the grassroots,” pahayag ni Ramirez, ipinagmamalaking anak ng Davao.
Kabilang sa sports na bibigyan ng pansin ang basketball, volleyball at running event, gayundin ang paglulunsad ng Bisaya Dabaw oratorical contest.
“We will ask policemen to coach the teams and officiate the games. We will also invite the Church, the City Mayor’s Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) and Association of the Barangay Captains, athletic directors, and coordinate with them to make the Children’s Games a success,” aniya.
Nakatuon ang Childrens Game sa mga kabataang may edad 13-anyos pababa. Target nito ang 20 barangays sa bawat lungsod.
Walang premyong cash, ngunit sinabi ni Ramirez na libre ang tournament shirts at shorts, gayundin ang transportasyon at pagkain.
